There has been a lot of controversy surrounding tankless water heaters the last 5 years, some people like them and some don’t. I am here to give you the pros and cons about owning a tankless water heater.
I personally own a tankless water heater and have had one for the last 3 years. It is very similar to a gas heater to heat your home with. It has a heat exchanger on the inside and only runs when you need it. One of the main reasons I got a tankless water heater is so I would not have to worry about running out of hot water! In the master bathroom, the shower has two shower heads, one for me and one for my wife. In the winter I like to run both showers at the same time and I like to take a longer shower. I have yet to run out of hot water and I love it! The last reason I like a tankless water heater is that it can be maintained. I can clean the heat exchanger with vinegar every 6 months to combat Lubbock’s hard water. With a tank water heater you cannot do this.
There are cons to having a tankless water heater and the main issue is Lubbock’s hard water. If the heater is not serviced after 6 months I start to notice a difference in the volume of water because of the sediment. All of the aerators for the faucets have to be flushed out and the heater cleaned with vinegar. After this has been done, the volume of water increases back to normal but having to maintain it every 6 months gets old.
Overall, I like my water heater but it needs a lot of attention. If you own a tankless water heater or have a comment, please send me your thoughts. I would love to hear someone else’s point of view.